Mark Twain waxes poetic on his life with Scott City students

A rowdy group of 260 middle schoolers crowded the bleachers in Scott City's middle school gym Monday morning to listen to advice and witness the antics from a Mark Twain impersonator.

While most of George Scott's jokes went over the student's heads, his eclectic dancing and cartwheel grabbed their attention.

The message of Scott's routine is simply to encourage the students to follow their interests and talents.

"Go with the things you learn about yourself and follow through with them like Mark Twain did, even through adversity," Scott said. "Have ample self-esteem."

Scott started impersonating Mark Twain in 2002.

"It just came along naturally," he said. "I mean, what are you going to do if you look like Mark Twain?"

Norman Brant, a Scott City, city council member, contacted seventh-grade language arts teacher Sarah Reinecke to see if the middle school would be interested in having Scott visit to put a face with the famous Mark Twain name.

"I think it's important because this is an author from our home state and they know a lot about Mark Twain," Reinecke said. "They learn about Mark Twain in elementary school and this is good for them to get a real flavor for who Mark Twain really was."

Turning to address her class, Reinecke added, "He really was funny, he was a humorist, he was silly, he would tell one-liners."

Brant said he loves history and wanted to share the historical value of Mark Twain with area students.

Scott performed a few magic tricks and then commented to a group of girls, "the more people I meet, the more I like dogs!" before strutting out the gym doors.

After his visit to Scott City, Scott went to Oran High School to speak to students and then to Kelly High School for family night.

ameyer@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 127